TRadford Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I have a desire to get a Musicman style bass, I really like the look of them. A real one is way out of my league, so I have been mooching around and discovered what is described as a Musicman Ernieball OLP Stingray in my home town. Now, I know Musicman is the real make, and this particualr bass is marked OLP on the headstock. Is Ernie Ball the owners/makers of Musicman then, as Im confused where they come into the picture. On another note, how are they rated? All the reveiws I can find rate them well, but I'd like some real world views on how they are. What the neck like, is it thin/thick? fast/slow? I really love my 5 string Dean, but Im just not getting the tone I want out of it. If I was playing metal (which is my main genre of choice to listen to) It would be great, but I dont really wanna play that, I wann play cleaner and funkier stuff. Im struggling getting the clean tone I want out of the Dean. I dont know if its me, or the amp or what. I'd love to learn a bit of slap, so how do the OLP's cope with that? Sorry for all the newbie questions, but Im very short on cash and dont want to buy something I later regrett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 There's always my OLP Tony Levin in the for sale section . OLPs were great Stingray style basses, but to me, not comparable to Musicman basses. Out of the box, mine played great, lots of thump, but lacking a little top end sparkle. Very different in tone to my MM 'ray. The EQ was pretty poor on mine, although I've heard lots of people who really liked theirs. I changed both the pickup and the EQ for the best money can buy IMO, really as a project, and it's turned out very well, but at a price. Think of it as a Stingray shaped bass, that has a personality of it's own, and your about there. Not a Musicman, but very nice in it's own right. OLPs play well, look great, and in many cases sound great too, I think they're well worth the money for a nice one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 OLP's are a highly regarded copy as they are Licensed by Ernie ball (OLP stands for Original Licenced Product). They do a very good Stingray impression obviously not as good as the real thing but bloody good for the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRadford Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 [quote name='Rayman' post='612492' date='Sep 29 2009, 09:24 PM']There's always my OLP Tony Levin in the for sale section . OLPs were great Stingray style basses, but to me, not comparable to Musicman basses. Out of the box, mine played great, lots of thump, but lacking a little top end sparkle. Very different in tone to my MM 'ray. The EQ was pretty poor on mine, although I've heard lots of people who really liked theirs. I changed both the pickup and the EQ for the best money can buy IMO, really as a project, and it's turned out very well, but at a price. Think of it as a Stingray shaped bass, that has a personality of it's own, and your about there. Not a Musicman, but very nice in it's own right. OLPs play well, look great, and in many cases sound great too, I think they're well worth the money for a nice one.[/quote] I had spotted yours, but its beyond my budget at the moment unfortunately. Unless I can make a very hard desicion by selling some of my camera equipment, Im looking at around £150 max. Its down to what I want more. My photography that I have done for 10 years or bass that I have been doing for 4 weeks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) No worries, MB1 is selling a 'ray copy for around £125 I think. Edited September 29, 2009 by Rayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew-Bass Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Sorry to hijack the thread, but Rayman; I really, really wish your OLP was left handed, and had one less string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Nothing a JigSaw can't fix..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRadford Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 [quote name='Rayman' post='612519' date='Sep 29 2009, 09:45 PM']No worries, MB1 is selling a 'ray copy for around £125 I think.[/quote] He wont post the blasted thing though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS73 Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I have wondered too on the OLP, so if we forget the Electrical side and hardware cos you could modify these anyway, and look at the body/neck, whats the difference and really does finish matter, so is it the wood? or wood quality? that sets them apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassmingo Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I used to own a stingray 5 and have just recently got an OLP levin, and with regards to the neck/body, it would be like comparing a very well made MIM or MIJ with a MIA fender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 OLP basses are very nice for the money, i think it would suit the sound you're looking for more than the dean, though personally i haven't played one for a while. I think i did have a go on luke's (known as Tait round here) olp HH model, and it was a nice bass, or i at least heard it being played and it was a very funky sound. You can't go too far wrong with them, though as rayman said, they're not comparable to a real musicman. the build quality isn't good, they don't feel as good as the real thing and the sound isn't quite the same. Also i wouldn't imagine one of the passive ones would be as good at all... a passive musicman style bass seems to defeat the object a little bit to me. But, i think it should be a decent enough bass for you, and if you can find one you like then go for it. Alternatively, you could go for a squier vintage modified jazz or something. It won't have the growl of the musicman-ness of the OLP, but it would still be a damn good bass and pretty funky sounding too if you played/eq'd it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V4lve Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 [quote name='budget bassist' post='612684' date='Sep 30 2009, 12:34 AM']Also i wouldn't imagine one of the passive ones would be as good at all... a passive musicman style bass seems to defeat the object a little bit to me.[/quote] Hi Interested in why you say this. I have a OLP MM3 and rather like the passive tone, it has a nice bark to it. However I have never played the real thing so cant really compare. Am thinking of replacing the cheap electronics at some point but now wondering if I should go active? I have passive (pre) and active EQ (post) on my pre-amp already, would there be any value add in going active? Thanks BTW the OLP is rather good value IMHO. Electrics are a bit flimsy but it's lovely to play, sounds great and is very good looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRadford Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 (edited) On a similar note, has anyone played the Vintage EST96 5 stringer? Im sure a squire would fit the bill perfectly sound wise, but I just cant stand the look of them! Edited September 30, 2009 by TRadford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 [quote name='V4lve' post='612788' date='Sep 30 2009, 09:56 AM']Hi Interested in why you say this. I have a OLP MM3 and rather like the passive tone, it has a nice bark to it. However I have never played the real thing so cant really compare. Am thinking of replacing the cheap electronics at some point but now wondering if I should go active? I have passive (pre) and active EQ (post) on my pre-amp already, would there be any value add in going active? Thanks BTW the OLP is rather good value IMHO. Electrics are a bit flimsy but it's lovely to play, sounds great and is very good looking.[/quote] I might be talking complete tosh, but i think the preamp adds a bit of punch to the sound, even when run flat. i have a project mm bass that was running passive for a while, and i just couldn't get the sort of "in your face-ness" that my EBMM had. Plus i prefer to be able to shape my sound from the bass and run my amp pretty much flat, but that's just the way i do it. You should try out a stingray and see what you think of the electronics. You never know, passive basses could be just the ticket for you. Personally, i can't stand them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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